Brussels, 01/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Italian Presidency has submitted two draft resolutions to its partners on cooperation in the war on drugs.
In the first draft resolution, Italy suggests seconding drugs liaison officers to Albania. Member States would be invited to send drugs liaison officers to their embassies in the Albanian capital Tirana, to reinforce intelligence operations in the war on drugs through careful surveillance and exchange of information with the relevant authorities on the Albanian-based drugs trade. Member States that do not send officers themselves may agree with Member States seconding officers that the latter cooperate on their behalf. Member States would also establish a coordination mechanism between the different liaison officers to ensure constant coordination of their intelligence operations and to promote a similar approach. Italy suggests that regular meetings be organised between the drugs liaison officers, attended by a Europol representative and, where necessary, Albanian officials. The meetings would be held every six months at least.
In the second draft resolution, Italy calls on Member States to pledged to adopt a common training programme for law enforcement officers in the war on drugs trafficking. Italy suggests that the European police training college be responsible for carrying out the training with a view to exchanging know-how between Member States' police forces and between the latter and other officers with relevant experience so they can carry out the same activities taking a common professional approach in terms of both operations and intelligence.
The draft resolution suggest that the training programme take a balanced approach, taking drugs demand reduction strategies as seriously as drugs supply reduction. The proposal highlights the importance of facilitating the integration of new Member States in the war on drugs in terms of the police, customs and the legal system.